For the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris, Emperor Napoleon III requested a classification system for France's best Bordeaux wines which were to be on display for visitors from around the world. Brokers from the wine industry ranked the wines according to a château's reputation and trading price, which at that time was directly related to quality. The result was the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. Images of the Palais dIndustrie The Exposition Universelle of 1855 was a Worlds Fair held in Paris, France. ... Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte (20 April 1808, Paris, France - 9 January 1873, Chislehurst, Kent, England) was President of France from 1849 to 1852, and then Emperor of the French under the name Napoléon III from 1852 to 1870. ... City motto: Lilia sola regunt lunam undas castra leonem. ... Wine is an alcoholic beverage produced by the fermentation of grapes and grape juice. ... A château (French for castle; plural châteaux) is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of gentry, usually French, with or without fortifications. ...

The wines were ranked in importance from first to fifth growths (crus). All of the red wines that made it on the list came from the Médoc region except for the Château Haut-Brion from Graves. The white wines, then of much less importance than red wine, were limited to the sweet varieties of Sauternes and Barsac and were ranked only from first great growth to second growth. First Growth (French Premier Cru) status refers to the greatest wines of the Bordeaux region. ... The Médoc is one of the most famous of the French wine-growing regions, consisting of the region in the département of Gironde, on the left bank of the Gironde estuary, north of Bordeaux. ... Château Haut-Brion is located in Pessac, Graves just one mile (2 km) from the city of Bordeaux in France (Appellation Graves Controlée). ... Graves (meaning gravel land in French) is an important wine region of Bordeaux, producing over 20 million bottles each year. ... Sauternes is a commune of the Gironde département in France. ... Barsac is a town on the left bank of the Garonne river in the Gironde département in south west France. ...

Within each category, the various châteaux are ranked in order of quality and only once since the 1855 classification has there been a change, when in 1973, Château Mouton Rothschild was elevated from a second growth to a first growth vineyard after decades of intense lobbying by the powerful Philippe de Rothschild. 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1973 calendar). ... Château Mouton Rothschild, located 50 km (30 mi) north-west of the city of Bordeaux, France in an area known as the Médoc, specifically the village of Pauillac. ... A vineyard Vineyard with bird netting Wine grapes with netting as protection against birds A vineyard (vignoble in French, vigna or vigneto in Italian, vinha in Portuguese, viña or viñedo in Spanish, Weinberg in German) is a place where grapes are grown for making wine, raisins, or table... Baron Philippe de Rothschild (13 April 1902 - 20 January 1988) was a member of the Rothschild banking dynasty who became a Grand Prix race-car driver, a scriptwriter, a theatrical producer, a poet, and the most successful wine grower in the world. ...

Interestingly, since it is a classification of Châteaux, the actual vineyards owned by some wineries have expanded and shrunk without any reclassification. Because of this, the government proposed revising the classification in 1961 and deleting 17 producers. However, the negative impact on prices that would be received by the effected châteaux led to strong political pressures and the government backed down. A winery is a facility where fruit, usually grapes, is processed into wine. ...

Wine critic Robert M. Parker, Jr. argues that the classification has long created an injustice to consumers because it has caused mediocre wines to be sold for too much and good wine to be sold for too little. He says that the archaic classification "Should be regarded by both the wine connoiseur and the novice as informational items of historical significance only." Determining an up-to-date classification is a favorite parlor game, especially among French wine enthusiasts. Robert M. Parker, Jr. ... France is one of the oldest wine producing regions of Europe, and also is generally considered to be one of the most prestigious, if not the best. ...

The 1855 List

The Medoc Classification of 1855

(Le Grande Cru Classe en 1855)

First Growths (Premiers or 1er Crus)

Château Lafite-Rothschild, Commune de Pauillac, Haut-Medoc
(archaically known as Chateau de la Fite, Laffite, Lafitte)
Competed in the Ottawa Wine Tasting of 1981 the Halekulani Wine Tasting of 2000.
Château Latour, Commune de Pauillac, Haut-Medoc
(archaically known as La Tour de Segur)
Competed in the San Diego Wine Tasting of 1975, the Halekulani Wine Tasting of 2000, and the Ottawa Wine Tasting of 1981.
Château Margaux, Commune de Margaux
(archaically known as Chateau Margau)
Competed in the Ottawa Wine Tasting of 1981, the Halekulani wine Tasting of 2000, and the Berlin Wine Tasting of 2004.
Château Haut-Brion, Commune de Pessac, Graves
(archaically known as Chateau Hautbrion, Houtbrion, Ho-Bryan, Obryan, Ho Bryen)
Competed in the historic Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, the San Francisco Wine Tasting of 1978, the Ottawa Wine Tasting of 1981, the Halekulani Wine Tasting of 2000, the French Culinary Institute Wine Tasting of 1986, and the Wine Spectator Wine Tasting of 1986.
Château Mouton-Rothschild, Commune de Pauillac, Haut-Medoc
(reclassified from Second Growth status in 1973)
(archaically known as Chateau Branne-Mouton)
Competed in the San Diego Wine Tasting of 1975, the San Francisco Wine Tasting of 1978, Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, the Ottawa Wine Tasting of 1981, the Wine Spectator Wine Tasting of 1986, the French Culinary Institute Wine Tasting of 1986, and the Halekulani wine Tasting of 2000.
Château Lafite-Rothschild is a very famous winery in France currently owned by members of the Rothschild family. ... The Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 revolutionized the wine world. ... The Halekulani Wine Tasting of 2000 was organized by Artisans & Estates at the Halekulani Hotel in Hawaii. ... Château Latour In most appraisals of the wine-growing world, the five First Growth Châteaux of the famous 1855 Bordeaux Classification are placed among the very best in the world. ... In the San Diego Wine Tasting of 1975, twenty-eight experienced wine tasters in San Diego, California, blind tasted eight Bordeaux wines and two California Cabernets from the 1970 vintage. ... The vineyard of Château Margaux stands as the producer of one of the worlds greatest and most sought-after red wines. ... In the Berlin Wine Tasting of 2004, a professional blind tasting was held with 36 tasters drawn from European wine journalists and wine buyers. ... Château Haut-Brion is located in Pessac, Graves just one mile (2 km) from the city of Bordeaux in France (Appellation Graves Controlée). ... French wines were generally believed by most people to be the very best wines in the world until 1976. ... The San Francisco Wine Tasting of 1978 was conducted 20 months after the historic Paris Wine Tasting of 1976. ... The French Culinary Institute Wine Tasting of 1986 was conducted on the tenth anniversary of the historic Paris Wine Tasting of 1976. ... The Wine Spectator Wine Tasting of 1986 was conducted on the tenth anniversary of the historic Paris Wine Tasting of 1976. ... Château Mouton Rothschild, located 50 km (30 mi) north-west of the city of Bordeaux, France in an area known as the Médoc, specifically the village of Pauillac. ...

Second Growths (Deuxièmes Crus)

Château Rausan-Segla, Margaux (Château Rauzan-Segla)
Château Rauzan-Gassies, Margaux
Competed in the Ottawa Wine Tasting of 2005.
Château Leoville Las Cases, St.-Julien
Competed in the historic Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, the San Francisco Wine Tasting of 1978, the French Culinary Institute Wine Tasting of 1986, the Wine Spectator wine Tasting of 1986, and the Halekulani Wine Tasting of 2000.
Château Leoville Poyferre, St.-Julien
Château Leoville Barton, St.-Julien
Château Durfort-Vivens, Margaux
Château Gruaud-Larose, St.-Julien
Château Lascombes, Margaux
Competed in the Ottawa Wine Tasting of 2005.
Château Brane-Cantenac, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Competed in the Ottawa Wine Tasting of 2005.
Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Pauillac
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac (Château Pichon-Longueville-Lalande)
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, St.-Julien
Competed in the Ottawa Wine Tasting of 1981.
Château Cos d'Estournel, St.-Estephe
Château Montrose, St.-Estephe Chateau Rauzan-Gassies is a Second Growth estate in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. ... Château Léoville-Las Cases is a Second Growth in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. ... Chateau Lascombes is a Second Growth estate in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. ... Chateau Brane-Cantenac is one of five Margaux chateaux classified as Second Growths in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. ... Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is a Second Growth in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. ... Château Montrose is a Second Growth in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 and is one of the most prestigious wine producers in France. ...

Third Growths (Troisièmes Crus)

Château Kirwan, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Château d'Issan, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Château Lagrange, St.-Julien
Château Langoa Barton, St.-Julien
Château Giscours, Labarde-Margaux (Margaux)
Château Malescot St. Exupery, Margaux
Château Cantenac-Brown, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Château Boyd-Cantenac, Margaux
Château Palmer, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Château La Lagune, Ludon (Haut-Medoc)
Château Desmirail, Margaux
Château Calon-Segur, St.-Estephe
Château Ferriere, Margaux
Château Marquis d'Alesme Becker, Margaux Château Lagrange is a winery in the Saint-Julien appellation of the Bordeaux region of France. ... Chateau Giscours is a Third Growth in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855, making it one of the most prestigious in France. ...

Fourth Growths (Quatrièmes Crus)

Château St.-Pierre, St.-Julien
Château Talbot, St.-Julien
Château Branaire-Ducru, St.-Julien
Château Duhart-Milon-Rothschild, Pauillac
Château Pouget, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Château La Tour Carnet, St.-Laurent (Haut-Medoc)
Château Lafon-Rochet, St.-Estephe
Château Beychevelle, St.-Julien
Château Prieure-Lichine, Cantenac-Margaux (Margaux)
Château Marquis de Terme, Margaux This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Château Branaire-Ducru is a winery in the appellation of Saint-Julien in the Bordeaux region of France. ... Chateau Prieure-Lichine is a Fourth Growth in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855, making it one of the most prestigious in France. ...

Fifth Growths (Cinquièmes Crus)

Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac
Château Batailley, Pauillac
Château Haut-Batailley, Pauillac
Château Haut-Bages-Liberal, Pauillac
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac
Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse, Pauillac
Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac
Château Lynch-Moussas, Pauillac
Château Dauzac Labarde (Margaux)
Château Mouton-Baronne-Philippe, Pauillac (Château d'Armailhac)
Château du Tertre, Arsac (Margaux)
Château Pedesclaux, Pauillac
Château Belgrave St.-Laurent (Haut-Medoc)
Château Camensac, St.-Laurent (Haut-Medoc) (Château de Camensac)
Château Cos Labory, St.-Estephe
Château Clerc-Milon, Pauillac
Château Croizet Bages, Pauillac
Château Cantemerle Macau (Haut-Medoc) Château Pontet-Canet is one of the dozen Pauillac properties ranked as Fifth Growths in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855, making it one of the most prestigious in France. ... Chateau Haut-Bages-Liberal is a Fifth Growth estate in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855, making it one of the most prestigious in France. ... Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a winery in the Pauillac appellation of the Bordeaux region of France. ... Château Lynch-Bages is a winery in the Pauillac appellation of the Bordeaux region of France. ... Label from a bottle of Pedesclaux wine. ... Chateau de Camensac is a Fifth Growth in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. ...

Sauternes and Barsac

Great First Growth (Grand Premier Cru)

Château d'Yquem, Sauternes A half bottle of Yquem Château dYquem is a Premier Cru Supérieur (French, Great First Growth or Great First Vintage) wine from the Sauternes region in the southern part of Bordeaux. ...

First Growths (Premiers Crus)

Château La Tour Blanche, Bommes (Sauternes)
Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Bommes (Sauternes)
Clos Haut-Peyraguey, Bommes (Sauternes) (Château Clos Haut-Peyraguey)
Château de Rayne-Vigneau, Bommes (Sauternes)
Château Suduiraut, Preignac (Sauternes)
Château Coutet, Barsac
Château Climens, Barsac
Château Guiraud, Sauternes
Château Rieussec, Fargues (Sauternes)
Château Rabaud-Promis, Bommes (Sauternes)
Château Sigalas-Rabaud, Bommes (Sauternes) Just near Château dYquem, Clos Haut-Peyraguey is also a wine from the Sauternes region in the southern part of Bordeaux. ...

Second Growths (Deuxièmes Crus)

Château Myrat, Barsac (Château de Myrat)
Château Doisy Daene, Barsac
Château Doisy-Dubroca, Barsac
Château Doisy-Vedrines, Barsac
Château D'Arche, Sauternes
Château Filhot, Sauternes
Château Broustet Barsac
Château Nairac, Barsac
Château Caillou, Barsac
Château Suau, Barsac
Château de Malle, Preignac (Sauternes)
Château Romer, Fargues (Sauternes) (Château Romer du Hayot)
Château Lamothe, Sauternes

Trivia

• The appellation system of the Douro region of Portugal was established nearly 200 hundreed years before that of France.
• Château d'Yquem sued unsuccessfully to reverse the reclassification of Château Mouton Rothschild from second to first growth status.

A half bottle of Yquem Château dYquem is a Premier Cru Supérieur (French, Great First Growth or Great First Vintage) wine from the Sauternes region in the southern part of Bordeaux. ... Château Mouton Rothschild, located 50 km (30 mi) north-west of the city of Bordeaux, France in an area known as the Médoc, specifically the village of Pauillac. ...

See also

• Bordeaux wine
• Classification of Saint-Emilion wine
• First growth
• Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
• Wine fraud
• French Wine
• Blind tasting of wine
• Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 (Historic wine tasting that revolutionized the world of wine)
• French Culinary Institute Wine Tasting of 1986 (Tasting on tenth anniversary of the Paris wine tasting)
• Wine Spectator Wine Tasting of 1986 (Tasting on tenth anniversary of Paris wine tasting)
• Wine Olympics
• New York Wine Tasting of 1973
• San Francisco Wine Tasting of 1978
• Ottawa Wine Tasting of 1981
• Berlin Wine Tasting of 2004
• Ottawa Wine Tasting of 2005
• St. Catherines Wine Tasting of 2005

The Bordeaux region is home to one of the most prestigious wines in the world - the Bordeaux Wine. ... In 1954 the wines of Saint-Emilion in the great wine-growing region of Bordeaux were classified. ... First Growth (French Premier Cru) status refers to the greatest wines of the Bordeaux region. ... Appellation dOrigine Contrôlée (AOC), which roughly translates as term of origin is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, by the government bureau Institut National des Appellations dOrigine (INAO). ... Wine fraud has probably existed since the earliest trading and commerce in wine, but it appears to increase when there is widespread prosperity and the prices of some wines become very high. ... France is one of the oldest wine producing regions of Europe, and also is generally considered to be one of the most prestigious, if not the best. ... Blind tasting of wine involves tasting and evaluating wines without any knowledge of their identities. ... French wines were generally believed by most people to be the very best wines in the world until 1976. ... The French Culinary Institute Wine Tasting of 1986 was conducted on the tenth anniversary of the historic Paris Wine Tasting of 1976. ... The Wine Spectator Wine Tasting of 1986 was conducted on the tenth anniversary of the historic Paris Wine Tasting of 1976. ... A Wine Olympics was organized by the French food and wine magazine GaultMillau in 1979, three years after the historic Paris Wine Tasting of 1976. ... The New York Wine Tasting of 1973 was organized by pioneering alcohol journalist Robert Lawrence Balzer. ... The San Francisco Wine Tasting of 1978 was conducted 20 months after the historic Paris Wine Tasting of 1976. ... The Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 revolutionized the wine world. ... In the Berlin Wine Tasting of 2004, a professional blind tasting was held with 36 tasters drawn from European wine journalists and wine buyers. ... The Ottawa Wine Tasting of 2005 was sponsored by the Vendange Institute of Ottawa and included 35 expert tasters. ... The St. ...

Source

• Echikson, Tom. Noble rot. NY: Norton, 2004.
• Taber, George M. Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the historic 1976 Tasting that Revolutionized Wine. NY: Scribner, 2005.